Editor:
I am a Democrat. My purpose in writing this letter is to give a “shout out” to how proud I am of our election workers and how much I trust our election process overall.
Over several election cycles, I have volunteered as a poll observer in Graham County. I could not have come away more impressed by the professionalism, dedication, and integrity of our election workers.
In the 2024 general election, Graham Countyhad more than 20,700 registered votersamong23 precincts, with over 15,300 ballots cast — about 74% turnout among registered voters. Our election went smoothly, but not by accident. It depended on committed local citizens working carefully and responsibly.
Just as in our own county, election workers across the country are not distant bureaucrats. They are neighbors, veterans, retirees, and longtime community members. They work long hours, carefully follow procedures, solve problems, and take their responsibilities seriously. They understand how important public trust is to democracy.
So, regardless of political party, we trust our local elections because we often know the people involved personally. But too many of us assume things are very different elsewhere in the country.
I do not believe that.
I believe counties all across the nation share the same kind of honest, hardworking election workers we have here in Graham County. They are quietly doing the difficult work of protecting the integrity of our elections every single election cycle.
Like many of us, I worry that broad claims about “rigged” elections undermine public confidence in the process. When citizens lose faith in elections, some may decide there is little reason to register or vote at all.
I grew up believing that democracy works best when people participate. Across Arizona and the nation, millions of eligible citizens remain unregistered, and many registered voters still choose not to vote. Greater confidence in the fairness and integrity of elections can encourage broader participation at every level.
Based on personal observation, the election workers of Graham County have earned our trust and respect. I believe election workers across America deserve that same confidence.
David Himelfarb
Safford
